The Surprising Cyber Threat Lurking In Your Office Printer

If someone asked you to list the top cybersecurity risks in your workplace, chances are you'd mention phishing scams, malicious software, or fragile passwords. But what if the real danger is something far less obvious—like the office printer sitting silently in the background? That overlooked device might be one of the most serious weak points in your entire system.

It might sound unbelievable, but printers are a favorite target for hackers. Many organizations don’t recognize how vulnerable these everyday devices really are—until a breach exposes the flaw. In an experiment conducted by Cybernews in 2020, researchers attempted to access 50,000 printers. Shockingly, over half—56%—were successfully breached, and each one was instructed to print a warning about printer security. That’s almost 28,000 machines exploited simply because they were assumed to be low-risk.

Hold On, WHY Would Hackers Go After Printers?

Surprisingly, printers handle a steady stream of private and sensitive material—ranging from employee pay stubs and legal agreements to confidential client records. For cybercriminals, that makes them incredibly valuable. Yet despite this, many organizations leave their printers exposed with little to no protection, making them easy targets for exploitation.

What Can Happen If Someone Hacks Your Printer?:

• Sensitive information gets stored – Many printers don’t just process documents—they retain them. Whether it's printing, scanning, or copying, a digital version may be saved on an internal drive. Over time, this can include financial records, contracts, HR files, and other private data. If someone gains access, they could steal or reprint this information without anyone noticing.
• Weak default credentials – A large number of printers ship with generic usernames and passwords like “admin” or “123456.” Since many businesses fail to update these credentials, attackers can easily log in and take control of the device.
• Easy access point into the network – Because printers are often connected to the same WiFi and internal company network as your computers, compromising one can provide a direct route to the rest of your systems. That includes the possibility of launching malware, installing spyware, or stealing data from other connected devices.
• Unsecured print jobs can be hijacked – If print traffic isn't encrypted, it's possible for outsiders to intercept documents while they're being sent to the printer. That means anything from private legal agreements to confidential medical files could be captured before they even hit paper.
• Surveillance and remote access – Today’s multifunction printers often come with features like scan-to-e-mail and internal memory. A hacker could exploit these to browse stored documents or monitor scanned files and emails remotely—turning your printer into an active spying device.
• Old firmware = New problems – Like any other connected hardware, printers rely on software updates to fix security holes. When these updates are neglected, known vulnerabilities remain exposed and can be easily exploited by attackers.
• Retired printers still contain data – Tossing out or recycling an old printer without clearing its storage is risky. Leftover data can often be recovered from the device’s internal memory, potentially exposing years of sensitive business information. Proper disposal includes fully wiping or destroying any internal drives.

Steps To Secure Your Office Printers From Cyber Threats

Understanding that printers can be targeted by attackers is just the beginning—taking action is what really matters. Here are essential precautions you should put in place right away:

1. Replace Default Login Credentials – One of the easiest ways to reduce risk is to update your printer’s default username and password. Choose a complex, unique password—similar to what you'd use for your online banking or email accounts.
2. Install The Latest Firmware Updates – Printer manufacturers regularly release updates that patch known security flaws. Make sure you’re running the latest firmware by checking the device settings or asking your IT team to keep everything current.
3. Use Encryption For Print Traffic – Enable features like Secure Print or implement end-to-end encryption so that data sent to the printer can’t be intercepted during transmission.
4. Limit Access To Authorized Users – Apply user access controls to restrict who can send jobs to the printer. Enable PIN protection for sensitive documents and create guest settings when necessary to prevent misuse.
5. Clear Out Stored Information – Some printers retain a history of print jobs. Set up a routine to delete stored data and, if the device has a hard drive, ensure it’s encrypted. Before disposing of any old printers, be sure to securely erase or physically destroy their internal storage.
6. Add A Layer Of Network Protection – Treat your printer like any other connected device—place it behind a firewall to help block unauthorized access from outside your network.
7. Track Printer Usage Logs – Start monitoring logs and printer activity to detect anything out of the ordinary. Sudden spikes in usage, unknown print requests, or remote access attempts can be indicators of malicious activity.

Your Printer Is More Than Just Office Gear—It’s A Potential Security Threat

In most workplaces, printers are seen as basic tools—just there to do their job. But this assumption is exactly what makes them a weak point. Hackers count on businesses ignoring printers when thinking about cybersecurity, and that’s what gives them a way in.

If you're locking down laptops, servers, and cloud systems but not your printers, you're unintentionally leaving the door wide open.

Curious whether your print environment is exposing your network? Book a NO-COST IT Systems Assessment today. We'll dig into the security of your devices—including printers—and help you plug any gaps before someone else finds them.

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